Archives for July 2007

Twenty-six units acquired by Giant Oil. BP has made a deal with Tampa, Fla.-based Giant Oil Co., selling off 26 stations in the Akron, Ohio area. While the details to the deal were not disclosed, a BP spokesperson told the AkronBeacon Journal that the deal was running as a typical business procedure for the worldwide

OOIDA sets up new Website to inform motorists. The “Turn Down Hot Fuel” campaign has just launched a new website to educate consumers on how “hot fuel” may have them paying higher prices than necessary for fuel. The campaign is spearheaded by a professional truckers’ organization, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), and includes a

Proposed increase could leader to higher security and operating costs. Fearing that a new federal tobacco tax will hurt overall store operations for a lot of retailers, the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa has stepped up and taken an open stand against the proposed legislature. The group feels that another increase in tobacco

Purchase of equity may lead to minimum ownership in the private company. Delek US Holdings Inc. has entered into agreements with several shareholders of Lion Oil Co. to acquire a minority equity interest of 28.3% in Lion Oil. Total cash consideration paid to the selling shareholders will equal approximately $65.4 million in the aggregate. The

Executive Leadership Solutions, a search firm that specializes in executive recruitment for the convenience store, petroleum and travel center industries, has signed on Robert “Bob” Iezzi as a senior executive recruiter. Iezzi is no stranger to the convenience store industry. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family he was behind the counter at a very young

County-wide undercover operation leads to big fines for illegal sales. When it got suspicious as to how so many minors in the area were acquiring cigarettes, the El Paso County Sheriffs Dept. in Texas launched an undercover investigation. The investigation targeted local grocery and convenience stores, catching 13 of them in the act of selling

New program helps strengthen data security. Visa USA has released a program designed to help the nation’s small businesses improve their security. The credit card company’s program calls for acquiring financial institutions to strengthen their existing data security efforts to identify and address risks among their small merchant customers–such as smaller c-store chains–including identifying whether

Company operates more stores worldwide than the popular QSR. Not only has 7-Eleven become the largest c-store chain in the world, but now it’s considered the most common store in the world, according to the Star-Telegram in Texas. The chain, which just celebrated its 80th birthday, has surpassed QSR giant McDonald’s as being the most

Company continues efforts with “Bringing Hope to the Table.” In its continuing fight against hunger, The Kroger Co. is inviting customers to join in “Bringing Hope to the Table,” a two-week campaign running this month in every store to support America’s Second Harvest, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. With the help of numerous vendor

New group to receive discounts for costly merchandise. Brian C. Weiss, owner of four convenience stores in Pittsburgh, has called together a cooperative for convenience store owners that could enable members to collectively negotiate lower prices on merchandise. “Over the past five years, we’ve been noticing how things have been getting really, really pricey,” Weiss

Falling shares cause company to reevaluate current financial condition. The Pantry Inc. has needed to reissue it’s financial forecast for the 2007 year for the third time since November, sending the price of shares down more than 11%, reported Reuters. The main reason for this change stems from an evaporation of gas margins the store

New executives moved into position within store’s corporate structure. York, Pa.-based Rutter’s has experienced some recent changes in personnel, altering the chain’s financial and operational staff. The new changes include the transfer of Patty Chatterdon from Rutter’s Farm Stores’ training supervisor to Rutter’s system support manager. Other changes include three new hires: Casey Sheehe as

New research shows which types of clerks are selling to young smokers. Even though most states stipulate that consumers be 18 years old to buy tobacco products, a new study finds that clerks who work in convenience stores that sell gasoline are the most likely to sell tobacco to minors. When compared to other retailers

Company celebrates with free Slurpees. Back in 1927, the first 7-Eleven store opened, offering customers the items they needed from 7am to 11pmhours that were practical, yet unheard of at the time. Now 80 years later, that first store has evolved into what is now the world’s largest convenience retailer with more than 32,400 stores.

New alliance dedicated to recovering oil from difficult reservoirs. Chevron Corp. has formed a research alliance with The University of Texas at Austin to develop new technologies to increase the amount of oil recovered from mature and challenging reservoirs. Under the alliance, Chevron Energy Technology Co., a Chevron subsidiary, will provide up to $5 million

“Go Further Grand Awards” rewards operators for hard work and sticking to guidelines. Shell Oil Products US and fuel marketer Motiva Enterprises LLC have recently recognized their highest-performing wholesalers in the U.S. for consistently providing exceptional experiences at their Shell-branded stations. The prestigious “Go Further Grand Awards” were presented in acknowledgment of efforts to deliver

Recent Vendor Expo showcases new equipment for car wash operators. D&S Car Wash Equipment Co. recently held its third annual National Sales Meeting and Vendor Expo on June 20th at the High Ridge plant near St. Louis, Mo. Distributors from all across the U.S. attended the event, which covered sales and service topics on D&S

New sweepstakes targets green customers. Kum and Go is helping customers do just that by giving them a car to “go” home with. The Des Moines, Iowa-based chain has just launched its “Fuel Good” sweepstakes, offering green-conscious customers a chance to win cars and thousands of dollars in E85 fuel. Customers simply go onto the

U.K. newspapers share leaked information regarding mega-merge. BP and Royal Dutch Shell may be on their way to a merger. According to two U.K. newspapers the London Times and the Daily Mail, the two are in talks and well on their way to creating what would be the world’s largest company. Rumors have been floating

Citigroup tobacco analyst Bonnie Herzog revealed a new survey that suggests Marlboro Snus, Phillip-Morris’s new entry into the smokeless tobacco market, may already be a success. The survey questioned both retailers and wholesales, who revealed that they feel the new product will be a hit among both smokers and moist smokeless tobacco (MST) users alike.

Consumer group attacks chain over consumer warning attempts. Tesoro is putting warning decals on its gas station pumps, including dozens of Shell stations, warning that consumers may not get all the energy they paid for in a gallon of gasoline, according to industry reports today. However, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) is

Small brewer unveils new beverage named after popular comedian. Rednecks rejoice! Larry the Cable Guy, popular comedian and actor, will now be immortalized in beer form with the release of a beer dedicated to his brand of redneck humor. The new beer, called–you guessed it–“Git-R-Done” is the brainchild of independent brewers Schilling Bridge Winery and

New York convenience store operators are taking to the airwaves to voice their frustration with Governor Eliot Spitzer’s inaction on the tax fairness issue. A 60-second TV commercial will begin airing in Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo and possibly other markets on July 5, 2007, demanding that Governor Spitzer begin collecting taxes on the vast amounts of

Tax hike pushes smokers to Kentucky for cheaper products. Hoosier smokers will have to pay more for their cigarettes. A new Indiana law went into effect Sunday that boosts the price. It’s always been cheaper in Kentucky. Indiana’s cigarette tax was 55 cents a pack. Now that’s it’s jumped to 99 cents, many more smokers

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